The showers Hurricane Matthew brought to Washington D.C. this weekend did not deter concert-goers from attending the long-awaited and much-hyped All Things Go music festival at the Navy Yards Park on Saturday. Starting from 11:30 AM, devoted fans congregated at the outdoor venue and stayed until Empire of the Sun’s last song well after 10 PM.

The Australian electronic music duo from Sydney headlining the festival is promoting their upcoming album Two Vines, scheduled for release on October 28. The two have been working tirelessly on updating their new album to bring completely fresh and exciting music to their fans, so be sure to check it out in a few weeks! Their set list featured classics from earlier albums including Walking on a Dream and We Are the People as well as popular new singles like High and Low and Two Vines.

Despite the muddy ground, a huge crowd of supporters left the safety of the concrete ground in favor of the pit in front of the state. A number of ardent fans even dressed up, donning the blue and white headdress and generous white eye makeup that is often sported by lead singer Luke Steele.

Empire of the Sun kicked off their show with a dramatic sacrificial ceremony-like performance. Dancers acting like servants, dressed in alien metallic gold and silver suits and goggle glasses, marched up and down the stage. Steele, sporting a dark royal cloak, slowly stomped his foot and began to sing.

Steele’s powerful and unwavering voice was captivating; his words were very easy and light while still controlled and steady. Throughout the night, he sung every note perfectly on-pitch with executed precision, striding through a big range of notes and hitting them all flawlessly. It was a pleasure just listening to his voice – though the captivating performers surrounding him definitely added to the experience.

The artists put on a great show, supporting their top-notch music with dancers that executed flawless routines in creative costumes and accessories. The entire experience was unique and overwhelming in the most wonderful way, and the different futuristic 3D graphics playing on the screen in the background made audience members feel like they had been transported to the future.

In an interview with Channel [V], Steele said that instead of focusing on death like many other artists did during 2002 when the duo met, he wanted to “talk about good things, positive things, about magic and dreams.”[1] In the interview, Steele expressed that he wanted listeners to think to themselves, “Oh! There really is LSD in the world!”

The transitions between songs were, as expected, eccentric. At one point, a deep voice started reciting philosophical sayings such as “Nature is a miracle” before the band went off and brought home their rendition of We Are the People. A man’s voice then interrupted this song to serve as an outro and started reading Korean words that were also displayed on the screen. The crowd appreciated the jarring transitions as they added texture to the show and cheered loudly at the sound of the first guitar strum and catchy drumbeat.

My first experience with an Empire of the Sun music video left me thinking that the group had to be from Japan – their productions were bizarre. YouTube played a few more and I was captivated: their videos, shot in cities like Shanghai to the countryside of Africa, all have very eccentric aesthetics. The singers are always dressed in futuristic outfits and give off a certain Avatar-esque vibe. Check out their video for Alive here and for Walking on a Dream here.

All in all, Empire of the Sun and the team put on a fantastic show that confused many but captivated all. The talented performers undoubtedly brought home a fantastic All Things Go Fall Classic and earned their title as headliners. Be sure to follow them on social media and stay tuned for their album release!